The Unruly Tourists workshop

Between 6-8 May 2021, NZ Opera held a 2 day workshop for a new piece of work, The Unruly Tourists – Luke di Somma (composer), Livi Reihana and Amanda Kennedy (libretto).

The Company reflected on how best to support all creatives and practitioners in this workshop space, with safety not only creatively but culturally being an incredibly important element for the Company. Because of this, NZ Opera had the privilege of inviting Tanea Heke (Ngāpuhi) and Mikaere Paki (Ngāti Apa, Ngā Wairiki, Tūwharetoa, Irish, Ngāti Kauwhata, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu, Tūmatakōkiri, Ngāti Poua, Welsh) on board this kaupapa, to assist the company as cultural advisors, providing guidance and support around tikanga and other matters as they arose.

Our practitioners and creatives were taken through Māori movement, mindset and worldview and our creative team were also supported when writing, devising and solidifying Māori content within the libretto itself. Mikaere Paki also held Māori based learnings including; pūkenga – attributes and talents, pūtake – purpose, tikanga – righteous protocols and action points, uara – values and kawa – portal and vision, and the elements of mauri, wairua, hirikapo, hinengaro and tinana. The inclusion of Mikaere Paki and Tanea Heke assisted in bringing this piece of work into a ground breaking space, and we are beyond grateful for their tautoko, manaaki and aroha.

Thomas de Mallet Burgess (General Director NZ Opera), Annabel Holland (Board Chair NZ Opera), Composer Luke Di Somma, Livi Reihana and Amanda Kennedy (Fan Brigade), Mikaere Paki (Tikanga & Cultural advisor) and Tanea Heke with creatives for The Unruly Tourists workshop
Mikaere Paki (Tikanga & Cultural advisor)